Ivan watched.

I knew he was staring again and did my best to ignore him, wondering yet again, why he was so focused on me.

“You know your way around horses, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I do,” I answered while enjoying the smell of horse up my nose for the first time in a long time. “I love them.”

“And you ride?”

“Actually, yes. I took my first riding lesson at four. Over the years, my mother liked to remind me of my announcement after that very first session. Apparently, I informed her that I would be moving into the stables and making the stall into my new bedroom.”

“Now that’s a scene I have absolutely no trouble imagining,” he said, leaning sexily against the fence, his lean muscles showing through the white linen shirt where his arms pulled the fabric tight. “You must have been an independent child, speaking your opinions freely.”

“You’re probably spot-on there. I am sure my family would agree with you, there. It’s been a while since I’ve ridden though. I had to leave my horse, Rocket, behind when I moved to London,” I said as a dark shape appeared from over the rise and caught my attention. Another horse. A stallion. Pure black and stunningly regal as he came toward us. “Is that the friend you hoped would show up?” I pointed in the stallion’s direction.

“Yep. That would be Pontus. Donadea’s standing stud, descended from a champion bloodline of racing stock, but he’s really just a big lout who earns his keep pleasuring the ladies.”

“Ha! Are you sure that’s Pontus you’re talking about? Could be describing yourself.”

He laughed at my analogy and wagged a finger at me. “Your mouth, Miss Hargreave, quite cheeky. I predict some payback will find its way to you… later.”

I suppressed the erotic shiver that immediately consumed me and turned my attention toward the approaching Pontus. When Ivan said stuff like that to me, my body responded in ways I’m sure he picked up on. I could only imagine how he might repay me for all my snarky teasing. Pontus distracted the awkward moment by pushing right in between Silver and Pearl and demanding some of the attention.

He nibbled at Ivan’s shirt hem and nosed around his hip pocket.

“Yes, mate, I’ve brought what you want. Finnegan wouldn’t let me out of the house without treats for you greedy lot,” he murmured. I watched Ivan retrieve a biscuit from his pocket and offer it to Pontus who wasted no time in gobbling it down. “And for you patient beauties as well.” He presented one each to Silver and Pearl. The contrast of the mares’ dainty acceptance of the treat compared to the messy way in which Pontus demanded his was hilarious. Witnessing Ivan interacting with the horses, and the obvious affection between them racked up even more points with me.

A man who showed his love and affection for animals?

Got me every time.

“So, you’re breeding horses here at Donadea.”